After decimalisation in the 60s, the above ground available silver went from ~700Moz to 250Moz over 7 years of deficits where recycling was practically non existant as photographys irrecoverable consumption projected a beak 10 years to depletion (before electronic photography was "in the picture")
Now we have a 5 year deficit starting at [1.6Boz avail, at peak 2.6Boz]? drawing down to roughly [1.23Boz... or 1.8Boz from peak]? in 5 years (-350Moz available but 800M cumulative deficit since peak stockpile... go figure)
- irrecoverable photographic consumption.
+ recycling advancements with electronics (locked up till obsolesance)
The antique silver and old pre-dec currency mostly would have been recycled heavily LONG ago in the late 70s early 80s enmass.
It would be a pity to source rare coins and antiques for melt considering the current stockpiles ARE depleating at slower rates and we have ~few decades vs several years projection vs the 80s in the windshield.
The currencies would likely have been burned up in the photographic melt anticipation prior to the accumulation that occured through the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.
Difference this time is its not being consumed by just 1 industry. Rather locked up by all the electronics and the ability to power them. (These remain owned and recyclable at a price: Higher than recycling "sterling" )
My number above are messy, but data for the interested:
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